Nine in 10 Jamaicans support regulation of minors’ social media use, survey finds

Nine out of every 10 Jamaicans support government regulation of minors’ use of social media, with many also calling for a national policy framework to protect children online, according to findings from the National Survey on Social Media Use and the Protection of Children.

The survey found that 90.2% of respondents support some form of government regulation of minors’ social media use, while 2.9% opposed such measures and 6.9% were neutral or unsure.

The findings were presented Tuesday by Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton during a press conference at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

“Nearly 84 per cent believe Jamaica should establish a clear national policy framework governing minors’ use of social media,” Tufton said.

He said the results show that Jamaicans view child protection online as a shared responsibility involving families, schools, government, communities and technology platforms.

“Only 12.7 per cent of respondents believe government should lead this effort alone, 40.5 per cent believe parents and guardians should play the leading role, while another 39 per cent favoured shared responsibility among parents, schools, government, communities and other stakeholders,” he said.

Tufton said government action must complement, rather than replace, parental involvement.

“No government policy can replace active parenting. No legislation can replace guidance within the home. No technology platform can replace the influence of families, teachers and communities,” he said.

Lead researcher Dr. Stephen Johnson, a research fellow at the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), said the survey also showed strong support for regulation despite concerns about enforcement.

He said 90.7% of respondents agreed that regulation is worth pursuing even if implementation proves challenging.

The survey found that nearly 90% of respondents support requiring parental consent before minors below a certain age can create social media accounts. Respondents suggested an average minimum age of 14, although 16 was the most commonly selected age.

Additionally, 83.6% of respondents said the rights of minors should be balanced with the need for greater protection online.

Johnson said 90% of respondents believe regulation would result in safer social media use among minors, while 89.1% believe it would help parents better supervise children’s online activity. Another 88.4% said regulation could reduce minors’ exposure to harmful content.

However, the survey also highlighted concerns about compliance. Johnson said 87% of respondents believe minors would likely find ways around restrictions.

“We have evidence indicating that that has been happening in Australia, where 80 per cent of minors are still online, despite an outright social media ban,” Johnson said.

The survey also examined current parental practices, including setting rules around social media use, monitoring online activity, using privacy controls, discussing online risks and enforcing consequences for breaking agreed-upon rules.

Researchers found that only about one-third of respondents consistently reported using those measures.

The national cross-sectional public perception survey included 1,027 adults.